Pak Shek Kok station on East Rail line scheduled to open as early as 2033

Pak Shek Kok station on the East Rail line is expected to open as early as 2033, Hong Kong authorities have said, unveiling long-delayed proposals that require the MTR Corporation to build the project to boost connectivity for a technology hub. The Development Bureau said on Thursday that the project would be financed by allowing the rail giant to build and sell private flats near the new station. The original plan called for a combination of private and public homes. The station will now be located between Tai Po Market and University stations. To create room, the existing sports ground for the Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) will be relocated to the 7.5-hectare (18.5-acre) site on the institution’s campus on Ting Kok Road in Tai Po. Meanwhile, the government will resume the site at Ting Kok Road, including private land and brownfield operations, with the total cost of land resumption expected to reach HK$400 million (US$51 million). “The change of plan [switching to private flats] was made after consideration, and we will build the station based on the needs of the residents,” a bureau spokesman said. The bureau added that the proposed project also included a footbridge spanning Tolo Highway that would connect the station with Chong San Road near the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. The proposed walkway aimed to enhance connectivity between developments on both sides of the highway, it said. Under the latest blueprint, two land parcels – comprising the current site of the EdU sports ground and a plot in Ma On Shan – will be granted to the MTR Corp for private residential development. The flats set to be built on the sports ground are expected to be low- to medium-rise housing to align with nearby development, pending a finalised design. The bureau spokesman added that the actual development parameters would depend on the MTR Corp’s detailed design, which was expected to be submitted by next year. The railway station was first mentioned in the 2021 policy address to serve the Science Park as part of the East Rail line, which is now a cross-harbour rail corridor between Admiralty and Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau at the border. But the announcement has been repeatedly pushed back, with authorities explaining that the delays were due to the highly complex nature of the engineering project, which required extensive technical studies and prolonged discussions over land use. The MTR Corp said that in addition to Pak Shek Kok station, the project would include the reprovisioning of the EdU sports centre. It added that given the station’s proximity to local residential areas and the Science Park, the project would feature pedestrian links and an elevated footbridge across Tolo Highway to Chong San Road to significantly enhance connectivity in the district. It also said that it was advancing to detailed planning and design proposals of the project, with a view to providing more convenient transport services for the community and in support of the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong. Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, vice-chancellor and president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), said the proposed railway station would align closely with its Area 39 project, an I&T and teaching hub. “The new station will enhance connectivity between CUHK, the Hong Kong Science Park and the Northern Metropolis, easing the convergence of global talent, research capabilities and innovative resources, further expanding the scope of industry-academia-research collaboration,” he said. Ryan Ip Man-ki, vice-president of think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation, said shifting the site south to a new spot closer to the Science Park, CUHK and the nearby private housing estates would more effectively serve researchers and the general public. “[The new site] eliminates the need to wait for the demolition and reprovisioning of the sports centre, which will significantly expedite construction,” he said. Ip added that the straighter alignment of the railway track at the new location was far more ideal, reducing engineering difficulties and making boarding safer and more convenient for passengers. Lawmaker Gary Chan Hak-kan said that Pak Shek Kok currently had a residential population of nearly 24,000, while about 20,000 people worked at the Science Park, creating strong demand for the new station. “The station will alleviate severe congestion currently seen near University station and on Tolo Highway during peak commuting hours, offering convenience to New Territories East residents,” he said. The legislator added that the project would also bolster connectivity between the city’s key innovation hubs.

Pak Shek Kok station on East Rail line scheduled to open as early as 2033

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Development Bureau says MTR Corp will be allowed to build private flats at new station, as opposed to previous plan for at least some public housing

Development Bureau says MTR Corp will be allowed to build private flats at new station, as opposed to previous plan for at least some public housing